U.S. patent application number 15/840864 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for printing apparatus and heating method.
The applicant listed for this patent is SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yuki MORIYA.
Application Number | 20180170070 15/840864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62556467 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180170070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MORIYA; Yuki |
June 21, 2018 |
PRINTING APPARATUS AND HEATING METHOD
Abstract
A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs
printing on a medium and a heating unit that heats the medium in a
heating region. The heating region includes a first portion and a
second portion having a height lower than the first portion in a
direction of gravity, and the heating unit is configured such that
an amount of heat per unit area applied to the second portion is
greater than an amount of heat per unit area applied to the first
portion.
Inventors: |
MORIYA; Yuki; (Shiojiri-shi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
62556467 |
Appl. No.: |
15/840864 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 11/002
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 11/00 20060101
B41J011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2016 |
JP |
2016-245555 |
Claims
1. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs
printing on a medium; and a heating unit that heats the medium in a
heating region, wherein the heating region includes a first portion
and a second portion having a height lower than the first portion
in a direction of gravity, and the heating unit is configured such
that an amount of heat per unit area applied to the second portion
is greater than an amount of heat per unit area applied to the
first portion.
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating
region includes a convection space in which air circulates between
the first portion and the second portion.
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
convection space has a first surface along a support surface of the
medium and a second surface parallel to the first surface.
4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
convection space includes an air blowing unit.
5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating
unit is configured such that an arrangement density of a heat
source that heats the second portion is higher than an arrangement
density of a heat source that heats the first portion.
6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heating
unit does not include the heat source that heats the first
portion.
7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,
as the heating unit, a pre-heater that heats the medium before
printing is performed by the printing unit.
8. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,
as the heating unit, a print heater that heats the medium while
printing is performed by the printing unit.
9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising,
as the heating unit, an after-heater that heats the medium after
printing is performed by the printing unit.
10. A heating method for a printing apparatus that includes a
printing unit that performs printing on a medium and a heating unit
that heats the medium in a heating region including a first portion
and a second portion having a height lower than the first portion
in a direction of gravity, the method comprising: heating the
medium with the heating unit such that an amount of heat per unit
area applied to the second portion is greater than an amount of
heat per unit area applied to the first portion.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a
heating method.
2. Related Art
[0002] To date, various printing apparatuses have been used. Among
them, there are printing apparatuses that include a heating unit (a
so-called pre-heater) that heats a medium before printing is
performed by a printing unit, a heating unit (a so-called print
heater) that heats a medium in a printing area of the printing
unit, and a heating unit (a so-called after-heater) that heats a
medium after printing is performed by the printing unit.
[0003] For example, JP-A-2004-181815 discloses an image forming
apparatus (printing apparatus) including an after-heater formed of
a heating wire serving as a heating unit.
[0004] In the image forming apparatus disclosed in
JP-A-2004-181815, a heating wire (after-heater) is provided in a
portion where the downstream side in the transport direction of a
medium (a recording medium) is low. The arrangement density of the
electric heating wire decreases toward the downstream side in the
transport direction. That is, in the image forming apparatus
disclosed in JP-A-2004-181815, a heating wire is provided such that
the arrangement density is higher as a portion thereof is located
higher and the arrangement density is lower as a portion thereof is
located lower. Due to the fact that hot air, which has a low
density, rises, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in
JP-A-2004-181815, the heat applied to the medium greatly differs
between the upstream side in the transport direction and the
downstream side in the transport direction (on the upstream side in
the transport direction, the medium is heated at a high temperature
and on the downstream side in the transport direction, the medium
is heated at a low temperature). Due to such a configuration of the
heating unit, the temperature difference in the heating region
becomes large, and the medium may be unevenly heated in some
cases.
SUMMARY
[0005] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that uneven
heating of a medium by a heating unit is suppressed.
[0006] A printing apparatus according to an aspect of the invention
includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium and a
heating unit that heats the medium in a heating region. The heating
region includes a first portion and a second portion having a
height lower than the first portion in a direction of gravity, and
the heating unit is configured such that the amount of heat per
unit area applied to the second portion is greater than the amount
of heat per unit area applied to the first portion.
[0007] According to this aspect, the amount of heat per unit area
applied to the second portion disposed at a lower height in the
direction of gravity is larger than the amount of heat per unit
area applied to the first portion disposed at a higher height in
the direction of gravity. Because hot air, which has a low density,
rises, hot air moves from the second portion side to the first
portion side and it is therefore possible to reduce the temperature
difference in the heating region and suppress uneven heating of the
medium by the heating unit.
[0008] Further, the "first portion" and the "second portion" mean,
for example, that when the heating region is divided into two in
the direction of gravity, the higher-side region can be referred to
as the "first portion" and the lower-side region can be referred to
as the "second portion".
[0009] In the printing apparatus, the heating region may include a
convection space in which air circulates between the first portion
and the second portion.
[0010] According to this aspect, because the convection space in
which air circulates between the first portion and the second
portion is provided, the temperature difference in the heating
region can be reduced particularly effectively.
[0011] In the printing apparatus, the convection space may have a
first surface along the support surface of the medium and a second
surface parallel to the first surface.
[0012] According to this aspect, because the convection space has
the first surface and the second surface parallel to the first
surface, the convection space can be provided along the support
surface and the volume can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to
circulate hot air particularly efficiently in the convection
space.
[0013] Further, it should be noted that "the second surface
parallel to the first surface" means not only a case where it is
parallel in a strict sense but also a case where it is deviated
somewhat from parallel.
[0014] In the printing apparatus, the convection space may include
an air blowing unit.
[0015] According to this aspect, because the air blowing unit is
provided in the convection space, it is possible to circulate the
hot air particularly efficiently in the convection space.
[0016] In the printing apparatus, the heating unit may be
configured such that the arrangement density of the heat source
that heats the second portion is higher than the arrangement
density of the heat source that heats the first portion.
[0017] According to this aspect, the arrangement density of the
heat source that heats the second portion is higher than the
arrangement density of the heat source that heats the first
portion. Therefore, it is possible to easily form a configuration
in which the amount of heat per unit area applied to the second
portion having a lower height in the direction of gravity is larger
than the amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion
having a higher height in the direction of gravity.
[0018] In the printing apparatus, the heating unit may not include
the heat source that heats the first portion.
[0019] According to this aspect, because the heat source that heats
the first portion is not disposed in the heating unit, a
configuration in which the arrangement density of the heat source
that heats the second portion is higher than the arrangement
density of the heat source that heats the first portion is
particularly easy to form.
[0020] The printing apparatus may further include, as the heating
unit, a pre-heater that heats the medium before printing is
performed by the printing unit.
[0021] According to this aspect, it is possible to heat the medium
while suppressing uneven heating before printing is performed by
the printing unit.
[0022] The printing apparatus may further include, as the heating
unit, a print heater that heats the medium while printing is
performed by the printing unit.
[0023] According to this aspect, it is possible to heat the medium
while suppressing uneven heating in the printing area of the
printing unit while printing is performed by the printing unit.
[0024] The printing apparatus may further include, as the heating
unit, an after-heater that heats the medium after printing is
performed by the printing unit.
[0025] According to this aspect, it is possible to heat the medium
while suppressing uneven heating after printing is performed by the
printing unit.
[0026] A heating method according to another aspect of the
invention is a heating method for a printing apparatus that
includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium and a
heating unit that heats the medium in a heating region including a
first portion and a second portion having a height lower than the
first portion in the direction of gravity. The method includes
heating the medium with the heating unit such that an amount of
heat per unit area applied to the second portion is greater than an
amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion.
[0027] According to this aspect, the amount of heat per unit area
applied to the second portion disposed at a lower height in the
direction of gravity becomes larger than the amount of heat per
unit area applied to the first portion disposed at a higher height
in the direction of gravity. Because hot air, which has a low
density, rises, hot air moves from the second portion side to the
first portion side and it is therefore possible to reduce the
temperature difference in the heating region and suppress uneven
heating of the medium by the heating unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like
elements.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printing apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus
according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a main portion
(pre-heater) of the printing apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a main portion
(after-heater) of the printing apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a main portion
(after-heater) of the printing apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a main portion
(after-heater) of the printing apparatus according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a main portion of the
printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to an embodiment
of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
FIGS. 1 to 5
[0037] First, an overview of a printing apparatus according to a
first embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a
schematic side view of a printing apparatus 1 according to this
embodiment.
[0038] The printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is provided with
a support shaft 2 for supporting a roll R1 of a medium M of the
roll type to be recorded on. In the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment, when a medium M is transported in the transport
direction A, the support shaft 2 rotates in the rotation direction
C. Further, in this embodiment, a medium M of the roll type wound
such that the printing side faces outward is used; however, in the
case where a medium M of the roll type wound such that the printing
side faces inward is used, the support shaft 2 can be made to
rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation direction C of the
support shaft 2 to feed out the roll R1.
[0039] In addition, although the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment uses a roll-type medium as the medium M, it is not
limited to a printing apparatus using such a roll-type medium. For
example, a single-cut type medium may be used.
[0040] In addition, the printing apparatus 1 according to this
embodiment is provided with a medium supporting portion 3 for
supporting the medium M. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 of
this embodiment includes a transport roller pair 5 formed of a
driving roller 7 and a driven roller 8 for transporting the medium
M in the transport direction A in a transport path of the medium M,
the transport path being formed of the medium supporting portion 3
and the like.
[0041] Further, in the printing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the
driving roller 7 is formed of a single roller that extends in the
scanning direction B that intersects the transport direction A of
the medium M and the driven roller 8 is provided as a plurality of
rollers side by side in the scanning direction B at positions
facing the driving roller 7.
[0042] A heater 12 (see FIGS. 2 to 5) formed of a heating wire
serving as a heating unit capable of heating the medium M supported
by the medium supporting portion 3 is provided in a lower portion
of the medium supporting portion 3. In this way, the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment is provided with the heater 12
capable of heating the medium M from the medium supporting portion
3 side; however, the printing apparatus 1 may be provided with an
infrared heater or the like at a position that faces the medium
supporting portion 3.
[0043] Further, the detailed configuration of the heater 12, which
is a main portion of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment,
will be described later.
[0044] In addition, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment
further includes, inside a housing portion 11, a printing unit 4 as
an inkjet head that records by ejecting ink from nozzles of a
nozzle forming surface on which a plurality of nozzles are provided
and a carriage 6 having the printing unit 4 mounted thereon and
capable of reciprocating in the scanning direction B.
[0045] Further, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the
transport direction A of the medium M at a position facing the
printing unit 4 (nozzle forming surface) on the medium supporting
portion 3 is a direction along a direction Y, which is a horizontal
direction, and the scanning direction B of the printing unit 4 is a
horizontal direction and is a direction along a direction X
orthogonal to the direction Y, and the ink ejecting direction is a
direction (vertically downward direction) along a direction Z,
which is a vertical direction.
[0046] Here, it is possible for the printing unit 4 to print by
ejecting ink from nozzles (not illustrated) to the medium M being
transported while reciprocating in the scanning direction B
intersecting the transport direction A of the medium M. By
including the printing unit 4 having such a configuration, as a
result of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment repeating an
operation of causing the medium M to be transported by a
predetermined amount (for one pass) in the transport direction A
and ejecting ink while moving the printing unit 4 in the scanning
direction B in a state where the medium M is stopped, it is
possible to form a desired image on the medium M.
[0047] Further, note that the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment is a so-called serial printer that performs printing by
alternately repeating the transporting of the medium M and the
scanning of the printing unit 4; however, it may be a so-called
line printer that performs continuous printing using a line head in
which nozzles are formed in a line along the width direction of the
medium M while continuously transporting the medium M.
[0048] In addition, a winding shaft 10 capable of winding the
medium M as a roll R2 is included on the downstream side of the
printing unit 4 in the transport direction A of the medium M.
Further, in this embodiment, because the medium M is wound up such
that the printed surface is outward, when winding up the medium M,
the winding shaft 10 rotates in the rotation direction C. On the
other hand, when the winding shaft 10 winds up the medium M such
that the printed surface is on the inside, it is possible to wind
up by rotating in the opposite direction to the rotation direction
C.
[0049] In addition, a tension bar 9 that extends in the scanning
direction B between the downstream end portion of the medium
supporting portion 3 in the transport direction A and the winding
shaft 10 and that is capable of imparting a desired tension to the
medium M is provided.
[0050] Next, the electrical structure of the printing apparatus 1
of this embodiment will be described.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 1 of
this embodiment.
[0052] A control unit 13 is provided with a CPU 14 that controls
the entirety of the printing apparatus 1. The CPU 14 is connected,
via a system bus 15, to a ROM 16 that stores individual control
programs and the like that the CPU 14 performs and a RAM 17 that is
capable of temporarily storing data.
[0053] The CPU 14 is connected, through the system bus 15, to a
printing-unit driving unit 23 that drives the printing unit 4.
[0054] In addition, the CPU 14 is connected, via the system bus 15,
to a motor driving unit 18 that is connected to a carriage motor
19, a transport motor 20, a sending motor 21, a winding motor 22,
and a fan motor 27.
[0055] Here, the carriage motor 19 is a motor for moving the
carriage 6 on which the printing unit 4 is mounted in the scanning
direction B. In addition, the transport motor 20 is a motor for
driving the driving roller 7 constituting the transport roller pair
5. In addition, the sending motor 21 is a rotation mechanism of the
support shaft 2 and is a motor that drives the support shaft 2 in
order to send out the medium M to the transport roller pair 5. In
addition, the winding motor 22 is a motor that causes the winding
shaft 10 to rotate. The fan motor 27 is a driving motor for driving
a fan 28 (refer to FIG. 5) serving as an air blowing unit to be
described later.
[0056] In addition, the CPU 14 is connected, through the system bus
15, to a heater driving unit 24 for driving the heater 12.
[0057] Furthermore, the CPU 14 is connected, through the system bus
15, to an input-output unit 25 that is connected to a PC 26 for
performing transmission and reception of data, such as recording
data, and signals.
[0058] Next, the heater 12 which is a main portion of the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described.
[0059] Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating a
pre-heater 33 serving as the heater 12 which is a main portion of
the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. In addition, FIG. 4 is
a schematic plan view showing an after-heater 34 serving as the
heater 12 which is a main portion of the printing apparatus 1 of
this embodiment. Further, FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing
the after-heater 34 serving as the heater 12 which is a main
portion of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the heater 12 is provided under the medium
supporting portion 3 (a support surface 29); however, in FIGS. 3
and 4, the arrangement of the heaters 12 is illustrated in
perspective so as to be easily understood.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 1, regarding the medium supporting
portion 3 of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, from the
support shaft 2 to a position (printing area) that faces the
printing unit 4 (nozzle forming surface), which is a heating region
38 heated by the pre-heater 33, the upstream side in the transport
direction A is low and the downstream side in the transport
direction A is high. On the other hand, from the position that
faces the printing unit 4 to the winding shaft 10, which is a
heating region 38 heated by the after-heater 34, the upstream side
in the transport direction A is high and the downstream side in the
transport direction A is low.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the heating region 38 heated by
the pre-heater 33, the arrangement density of the heater 12 is high
on the upstream side in the transport direction A and low on the
downstream side in the transport direction A (the interval between
adjacent heating wires is narrow on the upstream side in the
transport direction A and widens on the downstream side in the
transport direction A). On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS.
4 and 5, in the heating region 38 heated by the after-heater 34,
the arrangement density of the heaters 12 is low on the upstream
side in the transport direction A and high on the downstream side
in the transport direction A (the interval between adjacent heating
wires is wide on the upstream side in the transport direction A and
narrow on the downstream side in the transport direction A).
[0062] That is, the heating region 38 heated by the pre-heater 33
and the heating region 38 heated by the after-heater 34 both
include a first portion 36, which is a portion with a high height
in the direction of gravity (direction along the direction Z) and a
second portion 37, which is a portion where the height in the
direction of gravity is low (See FIG. 5), and the amount of heat
per unit area provided by the heater 12 is larger in the second
portion 37 than in the first portion 36.
[0063] Further, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the
pre-heater 33 and the after-heater 34 have the same configuration
except for the lengths in the direction along the transport
direction A being different, and the high arrangement density and
low arrangement density of the heater 12 in the transport direction
A being reversed.
[0064] To summarize the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment includes the printing unit 4 for printing on a medium M,
and the heater 12 that heats the medium M in the heating region 38
as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5. The heating region 38 includes the
first portion 36 and the second portion 37 whose height in the
direction of gravity is lower than that of the first portion 36,
and the heater 12 is configured (arranged) such that the amount of
heat per unit area applied to the second portion 37 is larger than
the amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion 36.
When the amount of heat is given by such a configuration, the
temperature of the air around the second portion 37 is higher than
the temperature of the air around the first portion 36. In other
words, the air around the second portion 37 is hotter than the air
around the first portion 36. Because hot air, which has a low
density, rises, hot air moves from the second portion 37 side to
the first portion 36 side. Therefore, finally, in the heating
region 38, the temperature difference between the first portion 36
and the second portion 37 decreases. Therefore, uneven heating of
the medium M by the heater 12 can be suppressed.
[0065] That is, as a result of the hot air, which has a low
density, rising, because the hot air moves from the second portion
37 side to the first portion 36 side thereby reducing the
temperature difference of the heating region 38, it can be said
that the heating unevenness of the medium M by the heater 12 is
suppressed.
[0066] Further, the "first portion 36" and the "second portion 37"
mean, for example, that when the heating region 38 is divided into
two in the direction of gravity, the higher-side region can be
referred to as the "first portion 36" and the lower-side region can
be referred to as the "second portion 37".
[0067] Here, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, even
though the heater 12 which is a heating wire serving as a heating
unit is used, it is also possible to use a heating unit having
another configuration such as an infrared ray irradiation apparatus
or a hot air generating apparatus in such a manner that the amount
of heat per unit area applied to the second portion 37 is greater
than the amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion
36.
[0068] In other words, the method of heating the medium M according
to this embodiment is a heating method for a printing apparatus
that includes the printing unit 4 that performs printing and the
heating region 38 that includes the first portion 36, and the
second portion 37 that is lower in the direction of gravity than
the first portion 36 including heating the medium M with the
heating unit such that the amount of heat per unit area applied to
the first portion 36 is higher than the amount of heat per unit
area applied to the second portion 37. By using such a heating
method, hot air moves from the second portion 37 side to the first
portion 36 side, the temperature difference of the heating region
38 can be reduced, and uneven heating of the medium M by the
heating unit can be suppressed. Further, the heating method of this
embodiment is executed under the control of the control unit
13.
[0069] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a convection space 32
in which air circulates between the first portion 36 and the second
portion 37 is provided in the heating region 38 of the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The convection space 32 is provided
on the side opposite to the side supporting the medium M in the
medium supporting portion 3. The convection space 32 is a closed
space in which air can circulate. Further, it should be noted that
the closed space here is not limited as long as it is a space
enclosed mostly by a wall, and it need not be a completely closed
space. At this time, in the convection space 32, the air around the
second portion 37 having a relatively high temperature rises toward
the first portion 36 and the air around the first portion 36, which
has a relatively low temperature, descends toward the second
portion 37 side. By utilizing such air convection in the convection
space 32, it is possible to suitably reduce the temperature
difference between the first portion 36 and the second portion
37.
[0070] Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment,
the convection space 32 is provided such that the temperature
difference of the heating region 38 can be reduced particularly
effectively.
[0071] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the convection space
32 of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment has a first
surface 30 along the support surface 29 of the medium M and a
second surface 31 parallel to the first surface 30. The first
surface 30 and the second surface 31 are formed in parallel and the
convection space 32 is provided along the support surface 29 to
reduce the volume. Consequently, the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment is configured to be able to circulate hot air
particularly efficiently in the convection space 32.
[0072] Further, it should be noted that "the second surface 31
parallel to the first surface 30" means not only a case where it is
parallel in a strict sense but also a case where it is deviated
somewhat from parallel.
[0073] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the fan 28 is
provided in the convection space 32 of the printing apparatus 1 of
this embodiment. Consequently, the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment is configured to allow hot air to circulate in the
direction D particularly efficiently in the convection space.
[0074] Further, it should be noted that, as in this embodiment, by
constructing the convection space 32 such that the connecting
portions between adjacent surfaces do not form an acute angle, it
is possible to circulate the hot air particularly efficiently in
the convection space 32.
[0075] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, in the heater
12 of this embodiment, the arrangement density of the heat source
that heats the second portion 37 (the region on the low side in the
direction of gravity) becomes higher than the arrangement density
of the heat source that heats the first portion 36 (the region on
the high side in the direction of gravity) (the interval between
adjacent heating wires serving as the heater 12 is narrow).
Therefore, it is possible to easily form a configuration in which
the amount of heat per unit area applied to the second portion 37
having a lower height in the direction of gravity is larger than
the amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion 36
having a higher height in the direction of gravity.
[0076] However, the invention is not limited to such a
configuration in which the spacing between the heating wires is
changed, for example, a configuration in which the output of the
heating unit is changed between the first portion 36 and the second
portion 37 or a configuration in which the distance from the
heating unit to the first portion 36 of the heating region 38 and
the distance from the heating unit to the second portion 37 of the
heating region 38 are different may be used.
[0077] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes the pre-heater 33 that
heats the medium M before printing is performed by the printing
unit 4 as the heater 12. With such a configuration, the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment can heat the medium M while
suppressing uneven heating before printing is performed by the
printing unit 4.
[0078] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes, as the heater 12, the
after-heater 34 that heats the medium M after printing is performed
by the printing unit 4. With such a configuration, the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment can heat the medium M while
suppressing uneven heating after printing is performed by the
printing unit 4.
[0079] Next, embodiments other than the above first embodiment will
be described.
Second Embodiment
FIG. 6
[0080] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the
after-heater 34 serving as the heater 12 which is a main portion of
the printing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, and corresponds
to FIG. 4 of the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.
[0081] Further, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment has the
same configuration as the printing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment except for the configuration of the after-heater 34.
[0082] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the after-heater 34 of the
printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment has a configuration in
which the heater 12 is disposed in both the first portion 36 and
the second portion 37.
[0083] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the
after-heater 34 of the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is
configured such that the heater 12 is not disposed in the first
portion 36, that is, the heat source that heats the first portion
36 is not disposed. This configuration also includes a
configuration in which the arrangement density of the heat source
that heats the second portion 37 is higher than the arrangement
density of the heat source that heats the first portion 36. That
is, it suffices if the arrangement density of the heat source that
heats the first portion 36 is relatively low, and the configuration
in which the heat source that heats the first portion 36 is not
disposed also includes a "configuration in which the arrangement
density of the heat source that heats the first portion 36 is
relatively low". With such a configuration, the printing apparatus
1 of this embodiment can particularly easily form a configuration
in which the arrangement density of the heat source that heats the
second portion 37 is higher than the arrangement density of the
heat source that heats the first portion 36.
Third Embodiment
FIG. 7
[0084] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a portion of the medium
supporting portion 3 illustrating the pre-heater 33, a print heater
35, and the after-heater 34 which are main portions of the printing
apparatus 1 of the third embodiment.
[0085] Further, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment has the
same configuration as the printing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment except for the configuration of the medium supporting
portion 3.
[0086] In the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, the upstream side portion of the heating
region 38 heated by the pre-heater 33 in the transport direction A
is low and the downstream side portion in the transport direction A
is high, the heating region 38 heated by the print heater is
substantially horizontal, and the upstream side portion of the
heating region 38 heated by the after-heater 34 in the transport
direction A is high and the downstream side portion in the
transport direction A is low.
[0087] On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 1 of this
embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, in any of the heating region
38 heated by the pre-heater 33, the heating region 38 heated by the
print heater 35, and the heating region 38 heated by the
after-heater 34, the upstream side portion in the transport
direction A is high and the downstream side portion in the
transport direction A is low.
[0088] Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment,
the same configuration as that of the heating region 38 heated by
the after-heater 34 of the printing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment is applied to all of the heating region 38 heated by the
pre-heater 33, the heating region 38 heated by the print heater 35,
and the heating region 38 heated by the after-heater 34 (the
internal configuration of each of the convection spaces 32 in FIG.
7 is the same as the internal configuration of the convection space
32 in FIG. 5).
[0089] In other words, the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment
is provided with the print heater 35 that serves as the heater 12
and that heats the medium M while printing is performed by the
printing unit 4. With such a configuration, in the printing
apparatus 1 of this embodiment, while printing is performed by the
printing unit 4, in the printing area of the printing unit 4 (the
area facing the nozzle forming surface of the printing unit 4), it
is possible to heat the medium M while suppressing uneven
heating.
[0090] Further, the invention is not limited to the above described
embodiments, and it goes without saying that it is possible to make
various modifications within the scope of the invention described
in the claims and that these are included in the scope of the
invention.
[0091] For example, in the printing apparatus 1 of the first
embodiment and the second embodiment, for both of the pre-heater 33
and the after-heater 34, and in the printing apparatus 1 of the
third embodiment, for all of the pre-heater 33, the print heater 35
and the after-heater 34, the amount of heat per unit area applied
to the second portion 37 is larger than the amount of heat per unit
area applied to the first portion 36. However, a configuration
including one of the pre-heater 33, the print heater 35, and the
after-heater 34 as described above, a configuration including
either of the pre-heater 33 and the after-heater 34 in addition to
the print heater 35, or the like may be used.
[0092] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-245555, filed Dec. 19 2016.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2016-245555 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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